Studies and Monitoring

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve (NP & Pres), Colorado, has its own unique environmental concerns based on its particular ecology. Air quality studies and monitoring programs at Great Sand Dunes NP & Pres focus on nitrogen and sulfur deposition, and toxic air contaminants. Click on the tabs below to review air quality studies and key scientific references at Great Sand Dunes NP & Pres, as well as to access information on air quality monitoring in the park.

Studies & Projects

Monitoring & Data

Key References

Ongoing research in Great Sand Dunes NP & Pres, Colorado:

Nitrogen & Sulfur Impacts

Nitrogen and sulfur deposition at the park can be particularly harmful to sensitive high elevation lakes and vegetation communities. Recent analyses indicate certain ecosystems in the park are at risk from atmospheric deposition (Nanus et al. 2009; Sullivan et al. 2011a; Sullivan et al. 2011b [pdf, 11.1 MB], Sullivan et al. 2011c; Sullivan et al. 2011d [pdf, 3.1 MB]). Excess nitrogen can induce fertilization effects, including changes to the species composition of sensitive aquatic and terrestrial communities. Potential effects have not been evaluated in the park, but research in other Rocky Mountain ecosystems has defined these thresholds, or critical loads, to be about 1.5 kilograms per hectare of wet nitrogen deposition per year (kg/ha/yr) for aquatic communities (Saros et al 2010; Baron 2006), and 4 kg/ha/yr of wet plus dry nitrogen deposition for terrestrial communities (Bowman et al. 2006). Water chemistry monitoring that started as part of a US Forest Service study, continues at Upper and Lower Little Sand Creek Lakes in an effort to analyze the effects of air pollutants on natural resources.

Follow-up research is examining the extent to which contaminants are causing abnormalities in reproductive organs in fish at Great Sand Dunes NP & Pres and other parks. Fish in other western national parks, including Rocky Mountain and Glacier NPs, have been found with pesticide and mercury concentrations exceeding human and/or wildlife health thresholds (Landers et al. 2010; Landers et al. 2008). Reproductive abnormalities associated with airborne contaminant exposure were detected in some male fish at these parks (Schwindt et al. 2009). An ongoing study to analyze mercury concentrations in fish from western national parks, including Great Sand Dunes NP & Pres, will fill gaps in spatial understanding of mercury contamination and identify potential risks to humans and wildlife consuming fish at the park (study overview [pdf, 699 KB]).